To think its a bit of a coincidence that more and more schools are getting outstanding ofsteds

[scruffybird]

It seems a bit of a coincidence to me that since the govenments plans for outstanding schools being able to apply for academy status, every school I know of has got outstanding ofsteds

What is the diference? What exactly IS an Academy?

We are all generally getting better at jumping through hoops though.
It's like teaching to the test but for grown-ups.

Too right, goblinchild. Dp's just had ofsted and it was phenomenally intense this time. From what he said it was because they knew exactly what they had to do and had the chance to prove they were really good, rather than it being more passive in the past. Went well, thank goodness.

It's a bit early to say. The last collated OFSTED stats cover a period which straddles the two administrations 1Sept 2009 - 31 August 2010).

Link to OFSTED outstanding stats.

The numbers rated outstanding have however declined recently (changes in how inspections are carried out?). In 2008/08 about 70% of schools were good/outstanding link to intro OFSTED annual report. In 09/10 it was down to 49% link to Balls.

I work with schools and I would say that standards are improving. Monitoring and assessment is tighter and the schools become aware of problems at a much earlier stage. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that not all schools get outstanding, and sadly significant numbers are still falling down and going into Special Measures. One thing that I will say, if a school gets a poor Ofsted, watch that school because within a year it will very likely be an outstanding school, if at all possible the LA will move in and throw support at them and really turn things around. (This support is of course provided by local government officers and other staff with amazing salaries and gold plated pensions... they are among the ranks who are being drastically cut and it doesn't matter because the DM assures us that they are all pen pushers who skive their lives away waiting to retire.)
Anyway... A school does not have to be Outstanding to become an Academy. I am working with a school at the moment that was put into Special Measures within the last 6 months, and they have been approached by a trust, offering them the chance to become an Academy under their umbrella and in partnership with some other schools.

Oh, an Academy is funded directly from Government and not via the LA. They get to keep the percentage that is normally top-sliced to provide LA support and will have to buy in their own professional and support services. They will lose the benefit of some of the deals that they get through the LA, bulk arrangements like for example insurance. Hopefully they will team up with other Academies to get economies.
When a school gets Academy status the current governing body disbands and is reformed. All the governors become trustees and their responsibilities (and liabilities) increase. (Quite frightening really when you consider that they are volunteers).
There are financial advantages initially for schools getting Academy status, it will be interesting to see their financial picture a few years down the line. There is a bit of a rush at the moment because the schools have worked out that the schools that go first will get more money. With the cuts to school budgets that are going to be phased in over the next 3 years I think even Academies will have to make some tough choices about what support they can offer to our children.